The Argosy — page 213: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

thes VOAWBNHA 2 WI2hHergaxae an | 196 The Burgomaster’s Daughter. “T repeat, Monsieur,—‘ except my son,’ and he has persuaded me to come hither, and ask you for her, this omc; but he knows that, refused now, I will never come again. And before you say No, listen to what I have to tell you. You think Monsieur le Baron d’Harscamp means to marry your daughter. Well, Jules was too honourable to stand in the way of her advancement, so he went to Paris, and saw the Baron, and asked him the question in a straight and honest way.” ‘“‘ How dared he?” cried the Burgomaster, now white with fury. ‘“He dared for Lucille’s sake. And he told the Baron what people were saying about the poor girl here, and he begged him, as a gentleman, to come back instantly, and marry her, and crush these insolent slanders beneath his feet. Or if he could not marry just yet, he entreated him to write and state his intention to make Lucille his wife, and so save your child from breaking her heart, beneath the venom and cruelty of her calumniators.” “Well,” cried Monsieur -Warenne, eagerly, ‘‘I know he answered like a gentleman.” ‘He laughed in my face,” exclaimed Jules, starting up, and break- ing the bonds of his calmness. ‘‘ He said he never had the slightest intention of marrying Mademoiselle Warenne, and he was not aware his intentions to her had ever passed the bounds of civility. His own marriage had long been arranged with his cousin, Mademoiselle de Bretiselle, and it would take place in the spring.” “Ttis false!” roared the Burgomaster. ‘‘ Patience, mother—never mind him,” said Jules, putting his hand on that lady’s lips. “Hear me out, Monsieur Warenne. I told him, on dessa this, that his intentions had passed the bounds of civility, and he had compromised a young lady’s happiness and acted like a scoundrel. He interrupted me with an insolent laugh, and a lying declaration that Mademoiselle Lucille had received his civilities very willingly ; and if they had been a little warmer than necessary, the fault was hers — and yours, as you had both encouraged him, the young lady with her eyes, and the papa with his words. He did not speak Lucille’s name twice: my fist fell on his insolent lips before he could utter it, and I knocked him down, and left him screaming furiously for his servants.” “You knocked down Monsieur le Baron d’Harscamp ?—you knocked down my—my son-in-law that is to be?” stammered the enraged Burgomaster. Poor man! he was certainly mad on this point. “‘T had that honour, ” said Jules, folding his arms a little theatri- cally, as we should think in England. _™ Then there’s the door, sir. I never wish to see you again in my house. As if it was likely the Baron would tell yow what his |?? intentions are towards my daughter ! 4 —_— * ee Gomicboo Gcom 2 ll § 5 } 4 ‘ e